Monday, November 09, 2009

Dodgers Return Entire Coaching Staff For 2010

The Dodgers press release:

LOS ANGELES – The 2009 National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that their entire Major League coaching staff will return for the 2010 season. Led by manager Joe Torre, the staff has guided the Dodgers to two straight National League West Division titles and two consecutive National League Championship Series. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.

Bowa will enter his fifth straight season as a third base coach for Torre and his third with Los Angeles. The 2010 season will be Bowa’s 45th in professional baseball as a player, coach or manager. The California native and longtime Phillies’ shortstop will be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame along with Dodger Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda this week.

Duncan played for the Dodgers from 1985-87 and 1989 was inducted into the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. The San Pedro de Macoris native first joined the Dodgers as the first base coach in 2006.

Honeycutt will enter his fifth consecutive season as the Dodgers’ pitching coach and last year his staff led the Major Leagues with a 3.41 ERA. Since he took over the reigns in 2006, Los Angeles has posted a 3.88 ERA, which is the best in baseball over that time. In 2009, the Dodgers’ also led the Majors in opponents’ batting average (.233) and finished tied for second with 1,272 strikeouts.

Howell oversaw a bullpen in 2009 that led the Majors with a 3.12 ERA, finishing well ahead of the second-ranked Oakland A’s (3.46). Since Howell came onboard in 2008, the Dodgers’ bullpen ERA is a Major-League best 3.22 and the bullpens’ 999 strikeouts over that time ranks second to the New York Yankees (1,006).

Mattingly, who officially became the Dodger hitting coach at the 2008 All-Star break, will return for his second full season. In 2009, the club hit .270, which tied them with the New York Mets for tops in the National League. The Dodgers also led the National League with 1,511 hits and a .346 on-base percentage.

Schaefer will enter his 30th year in professional baseball, a span that includes seven seasons as a minor league manager (1980-81, 1983-87). Schaefer also twice managed the Kansas City Royals on an interim basis, most recently in 2005. In a game against the Giants in San Francisco this past season, Schaefer’s knowledge of the rare “four-out rule” helped the Dodgers to an extra run in their 3-1 victory.

Mota will enter his 31st season as a coach with the Dodgers and 41st overall in the organization. He donned a Dodger uniform as a player in parts of 13 seasons from 1969-80 and 1982. His tenure as a coach is the longest in Los Angeles Dodger history.

Pentland joined the Dodger organization in 2008 and next year will be his 13th season as a coach on the Major League level. Since he officially joined the coaching staff on July 1, 2008, the Dodgers’ team batting average is .271, which is tied for second in the National League over that time.